One injured after fire breaks out in Fitchburg four-family home

Firefighters work at scene of two-alarm fire in a three-decker home at 133 Mechanic St. Friday morning. (SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / BRETT CRAWFORD)

FITCHBURG -- Firefighters battled a two-alarm fire in a four-family home at 133 Mechanic St. on Friday morning, displacing eight residents.

Everyone escaped the triple-decker home after the fire broke out at about 5:20 a.m., but one man from the third floor was transported to HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster with minor burns to his right forearm, according to Deputy Fire Chief John Curran.

Curran said when fire crews arrived, they believed there was still a resident on the third floor, but learned later that he had escaped on his own.

"Our first priority was life-saving," said Curran. He said once they learned the resident was safe they were able to concentrate on putting out the flames, which had increased during the attempted rescue.

Heat from the fire burst most of the windows in the building and melted the plastic siding. Part of an wooden overhanging section from the third floor broke off and crashed on two cars parked out front.

"Luckily no one was hurt when that happened," added Curran. A third vehicle was also damaged by debris and heat.

Curran said they have not determined if the fire started on the second or third floor yet and the cause of the fire is still under investigation by the state fire marshal.

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